Shloka 23
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि तपान्ते जलदो यथा । राजेन्द्र! जैसे गर्मीके अन्तमें बादल पानीकी बूँदें बरसाता है, उसी प्रकार महाबली शक्रदेव भीमसेनके ऊपर बाणोंकी वृष्टि करने लगा || २२ है ।।
sañjaya uvāca | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi tapānte jalado yathā | rājendra! yathā garmīke ante meghaḥ jalabindūn varṣati, tathā mahābalī śakradevo bhīmasenasyopari bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ cakāra | hataśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Seperti awan hujan di penghujung musim terik menumpahkan tetes-tetes air, demikianlah Śakra yang mahaperkasa mengguyurkan hujan anak panah tanpa henti ke atas Bhīmasena. Dan Bhīma yang sangat kuat tetap tegak di atas keretanya, meski kuda-kudanya telah terbunuh.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadfastness under adversity: even when circumstances collapse (a chariot’s horses slain), a warrior is expected to remain composed and resolute, meeting force with courage rather than despair.
Sañjaya describes a fierce exchange in battle: a mighty opponent, likened to Indra, rains arrows upon Bhīma like a monsoon cloud after summer heat, while Bhīma continues to stand on his chariot despite the loss of its horses.